What is the key question for individual vs situational explanations?
Do we behave in certain ways because of who we are as a person, or would everyone act in the same way given the same situation?
Individual explanation for behaviour
THE PERSON, UNIQUE, INTERNAL
- behaviour is caused by factors relating to the person and what makes us unique (eg. personality, intelligence, genetics)
- emphasis on internal factors
Situational explanation for behaviour
ENVIRONMENT, SOCIAL CONTEXT, EXTERNAL
- behavoir is influenced by the environment, social context and the behavior of others.
- emphasis on external factors
What is the key question for nature vs nurture explanations?
Are we born prewired to behave a certain way, or are we made?
Explanation of behaviour from nature
PREWIRED, INNATE, GENTIC PREDISPOSITIONS
- behavoir is caused by innate biological factors and genetic predispositions (eg, disorders, genes)
- emphasis on internal factors
Explanations of behaviour from nurture
ENVIRONMENT, UPBRINGING, LIFE EXPERIENCE
- behavoir is caused by environment, upbringing and life experience.
- emphasis on external factors
Key question for reductionist vs holistic explanations of behaviour.
Can we explain human behavoir by breaking it down into small parts and individual exaplanations or are we more than the sum of our parts?
Reductionist explanation of behaviour
BROKEN DOWN INTO SMALLER PARTS, SINGLE FACTOR
- behaviour can be broken. Down into smaller, more manageable components.
- behaviour can be explained as being caused by a single or limited number of factors
Holistic explanation of behaviour
WHOLE, MULTIPLE FACTORS
- behaviour should be viewed as a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.
- behaviour can be explained as being caused by multiple, interacting factors.
What is the key question for deterministic vs free will explanations?
We are predetermined to act in certain ways or do we choose how we act? Are we the controller or are we being controlled?
Deterministic explanation for behaviour
EXTERNAL FORCES, PREDICTED, NO CONTROL
- behaviour is largely dictated by external forces or underlying factors outside of our control.
- behaviour can be predicted and therefore can be controlled.
- every event is determined by an unbroken chain or prior choices.
Explanations that show free will
CHOICE, AUTONOMY, CONTROL, UNPREDICTABLE
- behaviour is the result of our free choices, and people possess autonomy.
- behaviour is unpredictable as each individual is in contorl of their behaviour.
What is the key question for psychology as a science?
Can psychology be considered to be scientific? What makes something scientific or not?
How psychology can be scientific
- research that controls for extraneous variables
- standardised research that can be replicated
- empirical (observable) data
- objective research
- falsifiable (can prove it)
How psychology may be less/not scientific
- poorly controlled research —> affected by extraneous variables
- Poorly standardised research that cannot be replicated
- ‘unseen’ data
- subject to biases
- unfalisifiable (cant prove it)
Key question for usefulness of psychological research
When is research most useful? When is it less useful? When is it not useful or damaging?
Psychology is useful when…
- research that is scientifically valid
- research that adds to our knowledge in a meaningful way
- research that can be used to help people
Psychology is less/not useful when…
- reasearch that is not scientific
- research that damages the reputation of psychology
- research that has fewer practical applications
Key question for social sensitivity
Does the research have the potential to harm people or groups of people with the results?
When social sensitivity is justifiable:
- if the results can help understand and prevent an unwanted situation
- if the results can identify an area of need for intervention.
When social sensitivity is not justifiable:
- if the results are damaging to a group in a way that outweighs the potential benifits
- if the results create stigma, reinforce stereotypes or prejudice.
Key question for ethical considerations:
Is the research following the BPS code of ethics: respect, competence, responsibility and integrity.
How ethical considerations show: respect.
- should not show prejudice
- should allow for consent and autonomy
- confidentiality
How ethical considerations show: competence
- being aware of professional code of ethics
- recognise own limitations and impairments
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Key Terms/definitions48
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Mlgram And Bocchiaros Studies9
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Piliavin And Levine Studies5
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Key Terms - Correlations, Self Report And Observations58
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Loftus And Palmer - Memory10
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Grant - Memory4
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Moray - Auditory Attention9
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Simons And Charbirs - Visual Inattention8
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Debates42
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Research Methods - Descpirive Stats/data32
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Basic Assumptions3
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Bandura - Agression2
